EP0320392B1 - Equipment for the simultaneous thermal formation of at least one row of containers made from thermoplastic material, each provided with a decorative banderole - Google Patents

Equipment for the simultaneous thermal formation of at least one row of containers made from thermoplastic material, each provided with a decorative banderole Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0320392B1
EP0320392B1 EP88403125A EP88403125A EP0320392B1 EP 0320392 B1 EP0320392 B1 EP 0320392B1 EP 88403125 A EP88403125 A EP 88403125A EP 88403125 A EP88403125 A EP 88403125A EP 0320392 B1 EP0320392 B1 EP 0320392B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carriage
unit
partial
guiding
thermoforming
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EP88403125A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0320392A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Claude Hautemont
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Erca Holding SARL
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Erca Holding SARL
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C51/00—Shaping by thermoforming, i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C51/16—Lining or labelling
    • B29C51/165—Lining or labelling combined with the feeding or the shaping of the lining or the labels
    • B29C51/167—Lining or labelling combined with the feeding or the shaping of the lining or the labels of a continuous strip

Definitions

  • thermoforming installation is, for example, known from French patent 2454892.
  • the support carriage in this case comprises a horizontal plate which, in the working position, is located under the thermoplastic strip and can perform reciprocating movements perpendicular to the vertical plane determined by the vertical axes of the forming chambers. a transverse row of said chambers, to introduce into each of the pre-winding chambers one end of a banner which will then, by air suction, be retained against the rod of the shaping member and entirely introduced into said chamber by a rotation of said rod.
  • the support carriage can be extracted from its working position towards the reel of mother tape installed at a fixed station, by rolling on raised rails.
  • horizontal whose level corresponds to that of the position of the pre-winding chambers and which extend in directions parallel to the transverse vertical plane comprising the axes of the chambers of a row of pre-winding or forming chambers. Due to the width of the horizontal plate of the support carriage and the existence of these hanging rails, access to the pairs of introduction rollers and to the transverse cutting knives remains problematic and the difficulty of access to the chambers form of the molding block and the pre-winding chambers of the support block remains unchanged.
  • the known installation does not make it possible to verify, outside the service position, and at an easily accessible location, the operation of all of the elements contributing to the longitudinal and transverse cutting of a banner and to the introduction of the latter in a forming chamber of the molding block.
  • the object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks and to propose a thermoforming installation in which the various elements ensuring the transverse cutting of the banners, their preforming and the introduction thereof into the forming chambers are not only easily accessible. but can also be brought into working order outside their normal working position in the thermoforming installation.
  • the first partial carriage has a very small width and when it has left its service position, is very easily accessible since the second partial carriage is always spaced from its front face and, in the spaced-out position called verification, only supports one of its ends, the other end of which then rests on the support block of the prerolling and streamer transfer unit.
  • This new design also enables the assembly of the first partial carriage and the support block with the molding block to be taken out of their service position by making one of the ends of the first partial carriage normally fixed on the support block bear. the support and locking stop of the second partial carriage, and the other end by the press plate.
  • thermoforming the containers from a thermoplastic strip and successively comprising a station for preheating the thermoplastic strip, a station for thermoforming containers, a station for filling the containers with a product, a station for sealing the containers and a station for cutting filled and sealed containers, are of a design widely known in the state of the art (see for example French patent 2034915) so that it is not necessary to describe them in more detail.
  • the object of the present invention relates more particularly to the thermoforming means and the decoration of the thermoplastic containers using decorative banners.
  • FIG 1 there is shown schematically a press plate 1 provided in the thermoforming station in below the path (arrow F1) of the thermoplastic strip, not shown, this press plate being sequentially driven by upward movements in a high position known as thermoforming and downward movement in a low position known as demolding while being guided vertically by four column 2 .
  • a molding block 3 which preferably comprises two rows 4, 5 of forming chambers 6, rows extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal extension of the thermoforming installation, c ' that is to say perpendicular to the direction F1 of the stepwise movement of the thermoplastic strip.
  • Each forming chamber 6 of the molding block has a vertical wall, an upper opening and a lower opening, the latter being capable of being closed by the head 7 of a shaping member 8 which below this head 7 has a rod tubular 9 guided on a solid vertical rod 10 whose upper end is at the bottom opening or bottom of the forming chamber 6 and whose lower end is secured to a support block 11 of the prerolling 12 of the banners 13.
  • the molding block 3 rests on the upper end of the support block 11 and is fixed therein in a normally non-removable manner while the support block 11 at its lower end is mounted removably on the press plate 1 which has at this location a transverse recess 14 open upwards and at the lateral ends.
  • the support block 11 of the pre-winding and transfer unit 12 for the streamers 13 comprises below the molding block 3 as many pre-winding chambers 15 as the molding block 3 has forming chambers 6.
  • Each of the pre-winding chambers 15 is aligned coaxially with one of the forming chambers 6 so that the vertical wall of each prerolling chamber 15 delimits a homothetic periphery to that of the forming chamber 6, but slightly less than the periphery of the latter, so as to constitute by its upper edge, an annular retaining shoulder which at the same time delimits the bottom opening of the forming chamber 6 and which prevents the streamer 13 from returning to the prerolling chamber 15.
  • the tubular rod 9 of the shaping member 8 has in its central part which, when its head 7 closes the bottom of a forming chamber 6, is located at the lower end of the prerolling chamber 15 and below the vertical access slot 16 in this chamber 15, several driving tabs 17 projecting radially from said tubular rod 9 and intended to act as transfer member and to push the banner 13 located in the prerolling chamber 15 in the forming 6.
  • the upward and downward movements of the driving cleats 17 are controlled using a cross member 18 whose ends are moved vertically using control means 19, part of which is provided below the support block 11 and housed in the transverse recess 14 of the press plate 1.
  • the support block 11 is removably mounted on the press plate 1 and can be fixed on the latter by means of a locking jack 20, the cylinder of which is integral with the plate 1 and the rod of which is engages in a notch in the support block.
  • This support block 11 can move horizontally and parallel to the vertical plane comprising the axes of a row of forming chambers 4 or 5 by resting on horizontal guides 21, 22 of the press plate 1.
  • the device for cutting, preforming and transferring the banners 13 also comprises a unit for the introduction and transverse cutting 23 of the banners 13 from individual strips 24.
  • This introduction unit 23 has a plurality of transverse cutting knives 25 capable of cooperating with a counter blade 26 for transversely cutting the rear end of a banner 13 introduced into the chamber corresponding pre-winding 15 through a vertical access slot 16; a plurality of pairs of introduction rollers 27a, 27b with axes parallel to the vertical access or introduction slots 16 and arranged upstream just in front of a corresponding slot 16 and capable of each sequentially driving an individual strip 24 pinched between its two rollers 27a, 27b, with a pitch equal to the length of a banner 13; toothed wheels 28a, 28b each secured to one of the introduction rollers 27a, 27b and meshing with one another and with a toothed wheel of the neighboring pair of rollers 27a, 27b; control means 29, 30 for sequentially driving the knives 25 and the toothed wheels 28a, 28b; and a
  • This first partial support carriage 31 comprises a vertical support wall 32 disposed against the support block 11 so as to constitute, by one of its vertical faces, part of the vertical wall of the prewinding chambers 15.
  • the support block 11 has two parallel rows of pre-winding chambers 15
  • the vertical support wall 32 of the first partial carriage 31 has in cross horizontal section the shape of a U which, by its wings, covers the transverse vertical faces of the support block 11 between the upper face of the press plate 1 and the upper end of said support block 11.
  • the vertical wall 32 is formed by the bottom of a U-shaped section 33, the lateral wings 34 extend horizontally away from the support block 11.
  • This U-shaped profile 33 also rests by its lower wing on the upper wing of another U-shaped profile 35 which is also part of the first partial carriage 31 which, by its lower wing, in the service position, rests entirely on lower horizontal slides 36, 37 of the lower part of the support block 11.
  • This first partial carriage 31 can be made integral of the support block by means of a jack locking 38 whose cylinder is for example fixed on the support block 11 and whose rod engages in a notch of the first partial carriage 31.
  • the horizontal slides 36, 37 are also parallel to the vertical plane comprising the axes of the chambers forming 6 and pre-winding 15.
  • the pairs of vertical rollers 27a, 27b are supported by the horizontal upper wing 34 of the U-shaped section 33 and are located at the same level as the prerolling chambers 15 and the knives 25 located the other side of the vertical support wall 32 and actuated by means of a stud 39 and a rod 40 controlled by the rod 41 of a jack 42 mounted on the first partial carriage 31.
  • a second partial support carriage 43 is arranged laterally with respect to the molding block 3 and to the direction of advance F1 of the thermoplastic strip and in alignment with the first partial carriage 31.
  • the second partial carriage 43 comprises on the side of the thermoforming installation, that is to say opposite the press plate 1 and of the first partial carriage 31, a support and locking stop 44 capable of being coupled to the corresponding lateral end 45 of the first partial carriage 31.
  • This stop 44 comprises a locking cylinder 46 whose cylinder is for example fixed on the second partial carriage 43 and whose rod engages in a notch in the lateral end 45 of the first partial carriage 31.
  • the second partial support carriage 43 is guided on horizontal rails 47 provided on the ground 48 on which the thermoforming installation rests and extending parallel to the guide rails 36, 37 of the first partial carriage 31 and in the vertical plane comprising the vertical axes of the forming chambers 6 of the same row of chambers 4 or 5.
  • a motor or other rotary control means 49 On this second partial carriage 43 is provided a motor or other rotary control means 49, the output of which is connected via a cardan link 50 and telescopic shafts 51 at the entry of the transmission mechanism 52 provided on the first partial carriage 31 and cooperating via the toothed wheels 28a, 28b with the pairs of introduction rollers 27a, 27b.
  • the second partial carriage 43 further comprises a drive motor 53 which ensures its displacement relative to the thermoforming installation.
  • the output of this motor 53 attacks, by means of a screw 54, a control wheel 55 which is free in rotation but integral in translation with the second partial carriage 43.
  • This screw wheel 55 cooperates with a horizontal threaded rod 56, one end of which is fixed to a lateral flange 57 of the frame of the thermoforming installation and which extends parallel to the rails 47 of the second partial carriage 43.
  • the support block 11 has on its lower part penetrating into the transverse recess 14 of the press plate 1 the control means 19 for the cross member 18 ensuring the rise and fall of the 'shaping member 8 with respect to the molding block 3.
  • control means 19 comprise, per row of shaping members 8, two vertical guide tubes 58 integral with the lower lateral ends of the support block 11, two vertical rods 59 each sliding in one of the guide tubes 58, connected at their upper end to the horizontal control cross member 18 and having, at their lower part, a rack 59a which cooperates with a toothed sector 60 articulated, on the one hand, on an axis 61 integral with the support block 11 and, on the other hand, on the rod of a jack 62 whose cylinder is also articulated on said block 11.
  • a connecting rod 63 connects the two tooth sectors és 60 to avoid the use of a second control cylinder.
  • the second partial carriage 43 is advantageously designed so as to be able to receive several reels of mother strip 64 (four in the example shown) each mounted on a transport carriage 65 with free wheels and capable of rolling and being oriented on the floor 66 of the second partial carriage 43 while being guided by a guide 67 extending parallel to the direction of movement F1 of the thermoplastic strip and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the partial carriages 31 and 43.
  • the reel of mother strip 64 is arranged on the second partial carriage 43 so that its axis is parallel to the guide rails 47 of said second carriage 43 and the axes of the coils 64 are aligned by pair of coils 64.
  • the second partial carriage 43 advantageously comprises, above the location of the reels of mother strip 64, a frame 68 supporting the cutting unit 69 of at least one mother strip 70 and preferably of two mother strip 70 , 71 in individual strips 24 as well as the adjustable position guide roller 72 for each of the individual strips 24 and the rollers 73 or return bars 74, 75 for the latter.
  • the second partial carriage 43 therefore comprises, as a longitudinal cutting unit 69, a counter-blade cylinder 76 and a cylinder with annular blades 77 whose blades 78 cooperate with the counter blades 79 of the cylinder 76.
  • a guide device 80 is provided. for the mother strip 70, 71 and for the individual strips 24 leaving the longitudinal cutting unit 69, this guide device 80 having to return the individual strips 24 alternately to one side and to the other (to the left and towards the right in Figures 9 and 10).
  • the cylinders with counter-blades 76 and blades 77 are arranged on the second partial carriage 43 so that their axes are parallel to the guide rails 47 of said second carriage 43.
  • a guide cylinder 81 Upstream of the counterblade cylinder 76 is provided a guide cylinder 81 which forms part of the device 80 and defines with the periphery of the counterblade cylinder 76 a passage slot 82.
  • a horizontal guide plate 83 is arranged upstream of the guide cylinder 81 and approaches tangentially to the upper generator thereof.
  • Another guide plate 84 is disposed in an inclined manner above the guide cylinder and approaches its lower end by the passage slot 82.
  • the cylinder 76 comprises a pair of annular grooves 85, 86 in which engage, on the one hand, in front and downstream of the contact zone of the blades 78 and against -blades 79 and in each pair of odd grooves, separation claws 87 extended outwards (left) by a guide plate 88 and on the other hand, at the upper part of the counter-blade cylinder 76, in each pair pair of grooves, release claws 89 extended outward (right) by a guide plate 90.
  • the mother strip 70, 71 and the individual strips are guided towards the cylinders 76, 77 of the longitudinal cutting unit 69 and then to either side of this unit 69 using several endless belts 91 (of circular cross section) which pass around the guide cylinder 81 and several deflection rollers 92, 93, 94 , 95, 96 and between the counter-blade cylinders 76 and with blades 77 as well as between the counter-blade cylinder 76 and the guide cylinder 81.
  • each endless belt 91 is offset laterally as they pass between the cylinders with against blades 76 and blades 77 and that these belts 91 are guided at least partially in annular grooves 97 provided either on the guide cylinder 81 or on the cylinders 76 and 77.
  • This follower device 98 comprises the guide roller with adjustable position 72 which at the same time plays the role of a tension roller fixed on the end of a double lever 99 the other end of which carries a counterweight 100 and, in his fall passes in front a photoelectric cell or other detection element 101 making it possible to ascertain a failure in advancement of the individual strip 24 or the breakage thereof.
  • the follower device 98 further comprises an oscillating platform 102 which is articulated at its outer edge on a horizontal axis 103 carried by the second partial carriage 43 and parallel to the guide rails 47 thereof and to the slides 21, 22 and 36, 37.
  • This pivot axis 103 coincides, moreover, with the horizontal axis of the deflection bar 75 which, in FIG. 10, has been shown slightly above the horizontal pivot axis 103.
  • the oscillating platform 102 Near its inner edge (relative to the vertical plane passing through the axes of the forming chambers of a row of chambers 4 or 5), the oscillating platform 102 has as many deflection rollers 73 as there are individual strips 24 per row of chambers 4 or 5, but for the clarity of the drawing, a single deflection roller 73 has been shown, the axis of this roller 73 being perpendicular to the oscillating platform 102 whose inner edge 102a is located in the extension of a row of chambers from f ormage 4 or 5 and in the horizontal position of the platform 102 at about halfway between the high position and the low position of the pairs of introduction rollers 27a, 27b, corresponding respectively to the high thermoforming position and to the position mold release base 3.
  • the inner edge 102 of the oscillating platform 102 is connected by a linkage link 104 to a vertical lateral face. 3a of the molding block 3 or to another element according to the upward and downward movements of the latter.
  • This linkage linkage 104 comprises an oscillation shaft 105 parallel to the pivot axis 103 of the platform 102 and carried in bearings (not shown) of the second partial carriage 43.
  • Several arms 106 are reasonably attached to this oscillation shaft 105 , 107, 108, 109 which are the same length and parallel to each other and, at their free end, are each articulated at the upper end of a connecting rod 110, 111, 112, 113 whose lower end carries a hinge pin 114, 115, 116, 117, parallel to the pivot axis 103 and the oscillation shaft 105 and aligned with each other.
  • the connecting rod 110 cooperating with the first arm 106 located near the vertical lateral face 3a of the molding block 3 is connected by its lower articulation axis 114 to said lateral face 3a so that during the upward and downward movements of the block molding 3, the oscillation shaft 105 will execute an oscillation movement and transmit this movement to the other three arms 107, 108, 109 which are rigidly attached thereto.
  • the other articulation axes 115, 116, 117 each carried by the lower end of a connecting rod 111, 112, 113 respectively engage in the oblong hole 118 of one of the three coupling fingers 119, 120, 121 which are fixed on the inner edge 102a in the extension of the oscillating platform 102 and respectively on the ends and the middle part of said platform 102.
  • the up and down movements of the molding block 3 are transformed into similar movements rise and fall of the inner marginal part of the platform 102 which then oscillates around its pivot axis 103 while allowing the individual strip section 24 located downstream of the last deflection roller 73 to follow the ascending races almost exactly and descending from the pair of corresponding introduction rollers 27a, 27b.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne une installation de thermoformage simultané d'au moins une rangée de récipients en matière thermoplastique dont les récipients sont munis chacun d'une banderole décorative, installation du type comportant:

  • ― d'une part, un poste de thermoformage à travers lequel passe pas à pas une bande thermoplastique préchauffée à sa température de formage, et qui comprend, en dessous du trajet de ladite bande thermoplastique, un bloc de moulage muni d'une pluralité de chambres cylindriques verticales de formage disposées en au moins une rangée transversale par rapport à la direction horizontale d'avancement pas à pas de la bande thermoplastique, ouvertes vers le haut et présentant, à leur extrémité inférieure, une ouverture susceptible d'être fermée par un élément de fond mobile par rapport au bloc de moulage de façon à être coiffé par la chambre de formage correspondante dudit bloc de moulage qui repose sur un plateau de presse verticalement mobile entre une position haute dite de thermoformage et une position basse dite de démoulage des récipients, et
  • ― d'autre part, un dispositif de découpe, de préformage et de transfert des banderoles dans les chambres de formage du bloc de moulage, ce dispositif comprenant de l'amont vers l'aval dans le sens de déplacement des banderoles:
  • ― un rouleau de support d'une bobine de bande-mère monté, de part et d'autre de ladite bobine, dans des paliers,
  • ― une unité de découpe longitudinale de la bande-mère en bandes individuelles prévue sur un bâti de support écarté latéralement du bloc de moulage,
  • ― au moins un rouleau de guidage à position réglable pour chacune des bandes individuelles,
  • ― une unité de préenroulement des banderoles décoratives, unité présentant dans un bloc de support qui est disposé en dessous du bloc de moulage:
  • a) une pluralité de chambres cylindriques verticales de préenroulement alignées chacune avec l'une des chambres de formage de sorte que la paroi verticale de chaque chambre de préenroulement délimite un pourtour homothétique à celui de la chambre de formage, mais légèrement inférieur au pourtour de celle-ci, de façon à constituer, par son bord supérieur, un épaulement annulaire de retenue qui délimite en même temps l'ouverture de fond de la chambre de formage,
  • b) un organe conformateur dont la tige traverse la chambre de préenroulement et forme avec la paroi verticale de celle-ci une chambre annulaire étroite de guidage et de préenroulement et dont la partie supérieure, d'une part, constitue au moins une partie de la plaque de fond et présente une section transversale de forme analogue, mais inférieure à celle de la paroi verticale de la chambre de formage de sorte que la distance entre la paroi verticale de la chambre de formage et la face périphérique de l'extrémité supérieure du conformateur soit au moins égale à l'épaisseur d'une banderole, et, d'autre part, est susceptible de pénétrer dans la chambre de formage et appliquer et maintenir appliquée ladite banderole contre la paroi latérale verticale de ladite chambre de formage,
  • c) une pluralité de fentes verticales d'accès dont chacune est ménagée dans une paroi latérale délimitant une partie des chambres de préenroulement et débouche obliquement dans une desdites chambres de préenroulement prévues dans ledit bloc de support et,
  • d) un organe de transfert prévu dans la chambre annulaire de préenroulement et de guidage, solidaire de la partie inférieure de la tige de l'organe conformateur et susceptible de supporter la banderole jusqu'à ce que celle-ci ait été transférée à la chambre de formage par un mouvement relatif entre ledit organe de transfert et ladite chambre de formage, et
    ― une unité d'introduction et de découpe transversale de banderoles présentant:
  • a) une pluralité de couteaux susceptibles de coopérer chacun avec une contre-lame pour découper transversalement l'extrémité arrière de la banderole introduite au moins partiellement dans la chambre de préenroulement correspondante,
  • b) une pluralité de paires de rouleaux d'introduction d'axes parallèles aux fentes verticales d'introduction et disposées chacune en amont d'un couteau et d'une fente d'introduction et susceptibles d'entraîner la bande individuelle pincée entre ses deux rouleaux d'un pas égal à la longueur d'une banderole,
  • c) des moyens de commande pour faire tourner les rouleaux d'introduction et actionner séquentiellement les couteaux de découpe transversale, et
  • d) un chariot de support mobile horizontalement, parallèlement au plan comprenant les axes des chambres d'une rangée de chambres de formage et perpendiculairement à la direction d'avancement de la bande thermoplastique au droit du poste de formage et portant les couteaux de découpe transversale, les paires de rouleaux d'introduction et les moyens de commande de ceux-ci.
The present invention relates to a simultaneous thermoforming installation of at least one row of containers of thermoplastic material, the containers of which are each provided with a decorative banner, installation of the type comprising:
  • - On the one hand, a thermoforming station through which passes step by step a thermoplastic strip preheated to its forming temperature, and which comprises, below the path of said thermoplastic strip, a molding block provided with a plurality of vertical cylindrical forming chambers arranged in at least one transverse row with respect to the horizontal direction of step-by-step advancement of the thermoplastic strip, open upwards and having, at their lower end, an opening capable of being closed by a bottom element movable relative to the molding block so as to be capped by the corresponding forming chamber of said molding block which rests on a press plate vertically movable between a high position called thermoforming and a low position called mold release from the containers , and
  • - on the other hand, a device for cutting, preforming and transferring the streamers in the forming chambers of the molding block, this device comprising from upstream to downstream in the direction of movement of the streamers:
  • A support roll for a reel of mother tape mounted on either side of said reel in bearings,
  • A longitudinal cutting unit for the mother strip into individual strips provided on a support frame spaced laterally from the molding block,
  • - at least one guide roller with adjustable position for each of the individual bands,
  • - a unit for pre-winding decorative banners, a unit having in a support block which is arranged below the molding block:
  • a) a plurality of vertical cylindrical pre-winding chambers each aligned with one of the forming chambers so that the vertical wall of each pre-winding chamber defines a homothetic periphery to that of the forming chamber, but slightly less than the perimeter of that here, so as to constitute, by its upper edge, an annular retaining shoulder which at the same time delimits the bottom opening of the forming chamber,
  • b) a shaping member, the rod of which crosses the pre-winding chamber and forms with the vertical wall thereof a narrow annular guide and pre-winding chamber and the upper part of which, on the one hand, constitutes at least part of the bottom plate and has a cross section of similar shape, but less than that of the vertical wall of the forming chamber so that the distance between the vertical wall of the forming chamber and the peripheral face of the upper end of the former either at least equal to the thickness of a banner, and, on the other hand, is capable of penetrating into the forming chamber and applying and keeping applied said banner against the vertical side wall of said forming chamber,
  • c) a plurality of vertical access slots each of which is formed in a side wall delimiting a part of the pre-winding chambers and opens obliquely into one of said pre-winding chambers provided in said support block and,
  • d) a transfer member provided in the annular pre-winding and guide chamber, integral with the lower part of the rod of the shaping member and capable of supporting the banner until the latter has been transferred to the chamber forming by a relative movement between said transfer member and said forming chamber, and
    - a unit for the introduction and transverse cutting of banners presenting:
  • a) a plurality of knives capable of cooperating each with a counter blade for transversely cutting the rear end of the banner introduced at least partially into the corresponding pre-winding chamber,
  • b) a plurality of pairs of introduction rollers with axes parallel to the vertical introduction slots and each arranged upstream of a knife and an introduction slot and capable of entraining the individual strip pinched between its two rolls with a pitch equal to the length of a banner,
  • c) control means for rotating the introduction rollers and sequentially actuating the transverse cutting knives, and
  • d) a support carriage movable horizontally, parallel to the plane comprising the axes of the chambers of a row of forming chambers and perpendicular to the direction of advance of the thermoplastic strip at the right of the forming station and carrying the transverse cutting knives , the pairs of feed rollers and the control means therefor.

Une telle installation de thermoformage est, par exemple, connue par le brevet français 2454892.Such a thermoforming installation is, for example, known from French patent 2454892.

Le chariot de support comprend dans ce cas un plateau horizontal qui, en position de travail, se trouve sous la bande thermoplastique et peut exécuter des mouvements de va-et-vient perpendiculairement au plan vertical déterminé par les axes verticaux des chambres de formage d'une rangée transversale desdites chambres, pour introduire dans chacune des chambres de préenroulement une extrémité d'une banderole qui ensuite sera, par succion d'air, retenue contre la tige de l'organe conformateur et introduite entièrement dans ladite chambre par une rotation de ladite tige.The support carriage in this case comprises a horizontal plate which, in the working position, is located under the thermoplastic strip and can perform reciprocating movements perpendicular to the vertical plane determined by the vertical axes of the forming chambers. a transverse row of said chambers, to introduce into each of the pre-winding chambers one end of a banner which will then, by air suction, be retained against the rod of the shaping member and entirely introduced into said chamber by a rotation of said rod.

Pour faciliter l'accès à l'unité d'introduction et découpe transversale des banderoles, le chariot de support peut être extrait de sa position de travail en direction de la bobine de bande-mère installée à poste fixe, en roulant sur des rails surélevés horizontaux dont le niveau correspond à celui de la position des chambres de préenroulement et qui s'étendent dans des directions parallèles au plan vertical transversal comprenant les axes des chambres d'une rangée de chambres de préenroulement ou de formage. En raison de la largeur du plateau horizontal du chariot de support et de l'existence de ces rails suspendus, l'accès aux paires de rouleaux d'introduction et aux couteaux de découpe transversale reste toujours problématique et la difficulté de l'accès aux chambres de formage du bloc de moulage et aux chambres de préenroulement du bloc de support reste inchangée.To facilitate access to the unit for the introduction and transverse cutting of the banners, the support carriage can be extracted from its working position towards the reel of mother tape installed at a fixed station, by rolling on raised rails. horizontal whose level corresponds to that of the position of the pre-winding chambers and which extend in directions parallel to the transverse vertical plane comprising the axes of the chambers of a row of pre-winding or forming chambers. Due to the width of the horizontal plate of the support carriage and the existence of these hanging rails, access to the pairs of introduction rollers and to the transverse cutting knives remains problematic and the difficulty of access to the chambers form of the molding block and the pre-winding chambers of the support block remains unchanged.

Par ailleurs, l'installation connue ne permet pas de vérifier en dehors de la position de service, et à un endroit facilement accessible, le fonctionnement de l'ensemble des éléments contribuant au découpage longitudinal et transversal d'une banderole et à l'introduction de celle-ci dans une chambre de formage du bloc de moulage.Furthermore, the known installation does not make it possible to verify, outside the service position, and at an easily accessible location, the operation of all of the elements contributing to the longitudinal and transverse cutting of a banner and to the introduction of the latter in a forming chamber of the molding block.

Selon un autre mode de réalisation connu par le brevet français 2425926, on évite le mouvement de va-et-vient du plateau du chariot de support, que ledit plateau exécute dans deux directions opposées perpendiculaires au plan vertical comprenant les axes des chambres de formage, à chaque opération d'introduction d'une banderole dans la chambre de préenroulement, en prévoyant les couteaux de découpe transversale sur une barre mobile parallèlement à la rangée des chambres de préenroulement et les fentes d'introduction sur cette barre mobile qui, en plus, est solidaire du bloc de moulage. Cependant, dans ce cas, il faut retirer de la fente l'extrémité libre de la bande individuelle de laquelle on découpe transversalement les banderoles, afin de ne pas l'abîmer d'une façon quelconque pendant la descente du bloc de moulage dans la position de démoulage. En effet, toute détérioration de l'extrémité de la bande individuelle rend difficile la réintroduction de celle-ci dans la fente d'accès. Il s'ensuit que ce mécanisme connu ne permet pas d'atteindre des cadences de travail élevées.According to another embodiment known by French patent 2425926, the back-and-forth movement of the plate of the support carriage is avoided, which said plate executes in two opposite directions perpendicular to the vertical plane comprising the axes of the forming chambers, at each operation of introducing a banner into the pre-winding chamber, by providing the transverse cutting knives on a mobile bar parallel to the row of the pre-winding chambers and the introduction slots on this mobile bar which, in addition, is integral with the molding block. However, in this case, it is necessary to remove from the slot the free end of the individual strip from which the streamers are cut transversely, so as not to damage it in any way during the descent of the molding block in the position mold release. Indeed, any deterioration of the end of the individual strip makes difficult reintroducing it into the access slot. It follows that this known mechanism does not allow high work rates to be achieved.

La présente invention a pour objet de supprimer ces inconvénients et de proposer une installation de thermoformage dans laquelle les différents éléments assurant la découpe transversale des banderoles, leur préformage et l'introduction de celles-ci dans les chambres de formage ne sont non seulement aisément accessibles mais peuvent aussi être mis en état de fonctionnement en dehors de leur position normale de travail dans l'installation de thermoformage.The object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks and to propose a thermoforming installation in which the various elements ensuring the transverse cutting of the banners, their preforming and the introduction thereof into the forming chambers are not only easily accessible. but can also be brought into working order outside their normal working position in the thermoforming installation.

Ce but est atteint conformément à l'invention du fait que

  • ― le bloc de moulage repose sur le plateau de presse par l'intermédiaire du bloc de support de l'unité de préenroulement et de transfert des banderoles et est fixé de façon normalement inamovible sur l'extrémité supérieure dudit bloc de support;
  • ― le chariot mobile de l'unité d'introduction et de découpe transversale des banderoles comprend deux chariots partiels disposés l'un derrière l'autre dans le sens d'une rangée de chambres de préenroulement et dont le premier chariot partiel repose, en position de service, entièrement sur au moins une glissière horizontale inférieure du bloc de support et est fixé sur ce dernier de façon amovible, présente une paroi verticale qui est munie des fentes d'accès dans les chambres de préenroulement et délimite une partie latérale de celles-ci et comporte, en amont de chaque fente, l'une des paires de rouleaux d'introduction et, en aval de ladite fente, un couteau de découpe transversale qui coopère avec une arête de ladite fente, faisant fonction de contre-lame, et un moyen de commande des couteaux de découpe transversale, et dont le second chariot partiel, d'une part, est guidé sur des rails prévus sur le sol sur lequel repose l'installation de thermoformage et s'étendant parallèlement à la glissière de guidage du premier chariot partiel, et, d'autre part, comporte le moyen de commande en rotation dont la sortie est reliée par l'intermédiaire d'une liaison à cardan et arbres télescopiques à l'entrée du mécanisme de transmission prévus sur le premier chariot partiel et coopérant avec lesdites paires de rouleaux d'introduction,
  • ― le bloc de support est monté de façon amovible sur le plateau de presse et est susceptible de se déplacer sur ledit plateau de presse dans un sens horizontal parallèle aux sens de déplacement des deux chariots partiels, et repose sur des guides horizontaux du plateau de presse parallèles à la ou aux glissière(s) horizontale(s) pour le premier chariot partiel et, en position de service, est solidaire dudit plateau de presse,
  • ― le second chariot partiel comprend du côté de l'installation de thermoformage une butée de support et de verrouillage susceptible d'être attelée à l'une des extrémités latérales du premier chariot partiel,
  • ― le second chariot partiel est muni d'un moteur d'entraînement assurant son déplacement par rapport au bâti de l'installation de thermoformage, et
  • ― le bloc de support est muni de moyens de commande pour les mouvements de montée et baisse de l'organe conformateur, dont une partie est prévue en dessous dudit bloc et logée dans un évidement transversal du plateau de presse.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention because
  • - The molding block rests on the press plate via the support block of the prerolling and streamer transfer unit and is fixed in a normally non-removable manner on the upper end of said support block;
  • The movable carriage of the unit for the introduction and transverse cutting of the banners comprises two partial carriages arranged one behind the other in the direction of a row of pre-winding chambers and the first partial carriage of which rests in position of service, entirely on at least one lower horizontal slide of the support block and is fixed thereon in a removable manner, has a vertical wall which is provided with access slots in the prerolling chambers and delimits a lateral part of these ci and comprises, upstream of each slot, one of the pairs of introduction rollers and, downstream of said slot, a transverse cutting knife which cooperates with an edge of said slot, acting as a counter blade, and a means for controlling the transverse cutting knives, and of which the second partial carriage, on the one hand, is guided on rails provided on the ground on which the thermoforming installation rests and stands tending parallel to the guide slide of the first partial carriage, and, on the other hand, comprises the rotation control means, the output of which is connected by means of a universal joint and shafts telescopic at the entry of the transmission mechanism provided on the first partial carriage and cooperating with said pairs of introduction rollers,
  • - The support block is removably mounted on the press plate and is capable of moving on said press plate in a horizontal direction parallel to the directions of movement of the two partial carriages, and rests on horizontal guides of the press plate parallel to the horizontal slide (s) for the first partial carriage and, in the service position, is integral with said press plate,
  • The second partial carriage comprises, on the side of the thermoforming installation, a support and locking stop capable of being coupled to one of the lateral ends of the first partial carriage,
  • The second partial carriage is provided with a drive motor ensuring its displacement relative to the frame of the thermoforming installation, and
  • - The support block is provided with control means for the up and down movements of the shaping member, part of which is provided below said block and housed in a transverse recess of the press plate.

Grâce à cette conception, le premier chariot partiel possède une largeur très faible et lorsqu'il est sorti de sa position de service, est très aisément accessible puisque le deuxième chariot partiel se trouve toujours écarté de sa face frontale et, en position écartée dite de vérification, supporte seulement l'une de ses extrémités dont l'autre extrémité repose alors sur le bloc de support de l'unité de préenroulement et de transfert des banderoles.Thanks to this design, the first partial carriage has a very small width and when it has left its service position, is very easily accessible since the second partial carriage is always spaced from its front face and, in the spaced-out position called verification, only supports one of its ends, the other end of which then rests on the support block of the prerolling and streamer transfer unit.

Cette nouvelle conception permet également de sortir l'ensemble du premier chariot partiel et du bloc de support avec le bloc de moulage hors de leur position de service en faisant supporter l'une des extrémités du premier chariot partiel normalement fixé sur le bloc de support par la butée de support et de verrouillage du second chariot partiel, et l'autre extrémité par le plateau de presse.This new design also enables the assembly of the first partial carriage and the support block with the molding block to be taken out of their service position by making one of the ends of the first partial carriage normally fixed on the support block bear. the support and locking stop of the second partial carriage, and the other end by the press plate.

C'est dans cette position latérale dite de vérification, que l'on peut vérifier le fonctionnement de tous les éléments nécessaires à la découpe transversale des banderoles, à l'introduction desdites banderoles dans les chambres de préformage et au transfert de ces banderoles dans les chambres des formages du bloc de moulage.It is in this lateral position known as verification, that one can verify the operation of all the elements necessary for the transverse cutting of the banners, the introduction of said banners in the preforming chambers and the transfer of these banners in the molding block forming chambers.

Finalement, lorsque le premier chariot partiel est détaché du bloc de support de l'unité de préenroulement et de transfert des banderoles, on peut sortir ce premier chariot partiel d'un côté de l'installation, et ledit bloc de support et le bloc de moulage de l'autre côté de ladite installation de thermoformage.Finally, when the first partial carriage is detached from the support block of the pre-winding and banner transfer unit, this first partial carriage can be removed from one side of the installation, and said support block and the block molding on the other side of said thermoforming installation.

Des modes particuliers de réalisation de l'invention sont décrits dans les revendications dépendantes. Un mode de réalisation de l'invention est décrit en référence aux dessins annexés sur lesquels:

  • ― la figure 1 est une vue schématique en plan sur le bloc de moulage et le plateau de presse dans le poste de thermoformage;
  • ― la figure 2 est une vue transversale en élévation montrant le premier chariot partiel et le second chariot partiel à côté du plateau de presse du poste de thermoformage;
  • ― la figure 3 est une vue en élévation montrant l'extrémité arrière du second chariot partiel;
  • ― la figure 4 est une vue en élévation d'une coupe verticale à travers l'ensemble plateau de presse, bloc de support, bloc de moulage et premier chariot partiel, suivant la ligne brisée IV-IV de la figure 6;
  • ― la figure 5 est une vue en élévation d'une coupe verticale passant à travers l'axe d'un rouleau d'introduction suivant la ligne V-V de la figure 6;
  • ― la figure 6 est une vue schématique en plan d'une coupe horizontale passant à travers le premier chariot partiel et le bloc de support, suivant la ligne VI-VI de la figure 4;
  • ― la figure 7 est une vue en élévation partiellement en coupe d'une partie du premier chariot partiel, suivant la ligne VII-VII de la figure 6;
  • ― la figure 8 est une vue en élévation partiellement en coupe du plateau de presse, et des moyens de commande des organes conformateurs suivant la ligne VIII-VIII de la figure 4;
  • ― la figure 9 est une vue schématique en perspective montrant les éléments essentiels pour la découpe des bandes individuelles et de l'introduction de ces bandes sous forme de banderoles dans les chambres de préenroulement;
  • ― la figure 10 est une vue schématique en élévation montrant la partie arrière du second chariot partiel sur lequel sont prévus deux chariots de support pour des bobines de bande-mère et une unité de découpe longitudinale de la bande-mère en bandes individuelles et le système de guidage de ces bandes;
  • ― la figure 11 est une vue schématique en perspective montrant la partie aval du système de guidage des bandes individuelles avant leur pincement dans les paires de rouleaux d'introduction;
  • ― la figure 12 est une vue schématique d'une coupe à travers l'unité de découpe longitudinale suivant la ligne XII-XII de la figure 13; et
  • ― la figure 13 est une vue en plan de l'unité de découpe longitudinale de la bande-mère.
Particular embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims. An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
  • - Figure 1 is a schematic plan view on the molding block and the press plate in the thermoforming station;
  • - Figure 2 is a transverse elevational view showing the first partial carriage and the second partial carriage next to the press plate of the thermoforming station;
  • - Figure 3 is an elevational view showing the rear end of the second partial carriage;
  • - Figure 4 is an elevational view of a vertical section through the press plate assembly, support block, molding block and first partial carriage, along the broken line IV-IV of Figure 6;
  • - Figure 5 is an elevational view of a vertical section passing through the axis of an introduction roller along the line VV of Figure 6;
  • - Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a horizontal section passing through the first partial carriage and the support block, along the line VI-VI of Figure 4;
  • - Figure 7 is an elevational view partially in section of part of the first partial carriage, along line VII-VII of Figure 6;
  • - Figure 8 is an elevational view partially in section of the press plate, and control means of the shaping members along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 4;
  • - Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the essential elements for cutting the individual strips and the introduction of these strips in the form of streamers in the pre-winding chambers;
  • - Figure 10 is a schematic elevational view showing the rear part of the second partial carriage on which are provided two support carriages for reels of mother tape and a longitudinal cutting unit of the mother strip into individual strips and the system guiding these bands;
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the downstream part of the system for guiding the individual strips before they are pinched in the pairs of introduction rollers;
  • - Figure 12 is a schematic view of a section through the longitudinal cutting unit along the line XII-XII of Figure 13; and
  • - Figure 13 is a plan view of the longitudinal cutting unit of the mother strip.

L'installation de thermoformage des récipients à partir d'une bande thermoplastique et comportant successivement un poste de préchauffage de la bande thermoplastique, un poste de thermoformage de récipients, un poste de remplissage des récipients avec un produit, un poste de scellement des récipients et un poste de découpage des récipients remplis et scellés, sont d'une conception largement connue dans l'état de la technique (voir par exemple brevet français 2034915) de sorte qu'il n'est pas nécessaire de les décrire plus en détail.The installation for thermoforming the containers from a thermoplastic strip and successively comprising a station for preheating the thermoplastic strip, a station for thermoforming containers, a station for filling the containers with a product, a station for sealing the containers and a station for cutting filled and sealed containers, are of a design widely known in the state of the art (see for example French patent 2034915) so that it is not necessary to describe them in more detail.

L'objet de la présente invention concerne plus particulièrement les moyens de thermoformage et la décoration des récipients thermoplastiques à l'aide de banderoles décoratives.The object of the present invention relates more particularly to the thermoforming means and the decoration of the thermoplastic containers using decorative banners.

Sur la figure 1, on a représenté schématiquement un plateau de presse 1 prévu dans le poste de thermoformage en dessous du trajet (flèche F1) de la bande thermoplastique non représentée, ce plateau de presse étant animé séquentiellement de mouvements de montée dans une position haute dite de thermoformage et de baisse dans une position basse dite de démoulage en étant guidé verticalement par quatre colonne 2.In Figure 1, there is shown schematically a press plate 1 provided in the thermoforming station in below the path (arrow F1) of the thermoplastic strip, not shown, this press plate being sequentially driven by upward movements in a high position known as thermoforming and downward movement in a low position known as demolding while being guided vertically by four column 2 .

Sur ce plateau de presse 1, est disposé un bloc de moulage 3 qui de préférence comprend deux rangées 4, 5 de chambres de formage 6, rangées s'étendant transversalement par rapport à l'extension longitudinale de l'installation de thermoformage, c'est-à-dire perpendiculairement à la direction F1 de déplacement pas à pas de la bande thermoplastique.On this press plate 1, is disposed a molding block 3 which preferably comprises two rows 4, 5 of forming chambers 6, rows extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal extension of the thermoforming installation, c ' that is to say perpendicular to the direction F1 of the stepwise movement of the thermoplastic strip.

Chaque chambre de formage 6 du bloc de moulage comporte une paroi verticale, une ouverture supérieure et une ouverture inférieure, cette dernière étant susceptible d'être fermée par la tête 7 d'un organe conformateur 8 qui en dessous de cette tête 7 présente une tige tubulaire 9 guidée sur une tige verticale pleine 10 dont l'extrémité supérieure est au niveau de l'ouverture inférieure ou fond de la chambre de formage 6 et dont l'extrémité inférieure est solidaire d'un bloc de support 11 de l'unité de préenroulement 12 des banderoles 13.Each forming chamber 6 of the molding block has a vertical wall, an upper opening and a lower opening, the latter being capable of being closed by the head 7 of a shaping member 8 which below this head 7 has a rod tubular 9 guided on a solid vertical rod 10 whose upper end is at the bottom opening or bottom of the forming chamber 6 and whose lower end is secured to a support block 11 of the prerolling 12 of the banners 13.

Comme on peut le voir sur la figure 4 notamment, le bloc de moulage 3 repose sur l'extrémité supérieure du bloc de support 11 et y est fixé de façon normalement inamovible tandis que le bloc de support 11 à son extrémité inférieure, est monté de façon amovible sur le plateau de presse 1 qui présente à cet endroit un évidement transversal 14 ouvert vers le haut et aux extrémités latérales.As can be seen in FIG. 4 in particular, the molding block 3 rests on the upper end of the support block 11 and is fixed therein in a normally non-removable manner while the support block 11 at its lower end is mounted removably on the press plate 1 which has at this location a transverse recess 14 open upwards and at the lateral ends.

Le bloc de support 11 de l'unité de préenroulement et de transfert 12 des banderoles 13 comprend en dessous du bloc de moulage 3 autant de chambres de préenroulement 15 que le bloc de moulage 3 possède de chambres de formage 6. Chacune des chambres de préenroulement 15 est alignée coaxialement avec l'une des chambres de formage 6 de sorte que la paroi verticale de chaque chambre de préenroulement 15 délimite un pourtour homothétique à celui de la chambre de formage 6, mais légèrement inférieur au pourtour de celle-ci, de façon à constituer par son bord supérieur, un épaulement annulaire de retenue qui délimite en même temps l'ouverture de fond de la chambre de formage 6 et qui empêche la banderole 13 de revenir vers la chambre de préenroulement 15.The support block 11 of the pre-winding and transfer unit 12 for the streamers 13 comprises below the molding block 3 as many pre-winding chambers 15 as the molding block 3 has forming chambers 6. Each of the pre-winding chambers 15 is aligned coaxially with one of the forming chambers 6 so that the vertical wall of each prerolling chamber 15 delimits a homothetic periphery to that of the forming chamber 6, but slightly less than the periphery of the latter, so as to constitute by its upper edge, an annular retaining shoulder which at the same time delimits the bottom opening of the forming chamber 6 and which prevents the streamer 13 from returning to the prerolling chamber 15.

La tige tubulaire 9 de l'organe conformateur 8 comporte dans sa partie médiane qui, lorsque sa tête 7 obture le fond d'une chambre de formage 6, se trouve à l'extrémité inférieure de la chambre de préenroulement 15 et en dessous de la fente verticale d'accès 16 dans cette chambre 15, plusieurs taquets entraîneurs 17 dépassant radialement de ladite tige tubulaire 9 et destinés à faire office d'organe de transfert et à pousser la banderole 13 se trouvant dans la chambre de préenroulement 15 dans la chambre de formage 6.The tubular rod 9 of the shaping member 8 has in its central part which, when its head 7 closes the bottom of a forming chamber 6, is located at the lower end of the prerolling chamber 15 and below the vertical access slot 16 in this chamber 15, several driving tabs 17 projecting radially from said tubular rod 9 and intended to act as transfer member and to push the banner 13 located in the prerolling chamber 15 in the forming 6.

Les mouvements de montée et de baisse des taquets entraîneurs 17 sont commandés à l'aide d'une traverse 18 dont les extrémités sont déplacées verticalement à l'aide de moyens de commande 19 dont une partie est prévue en dessous du bloc de support 11 et logée dans l'évidement transversal 14 du plateau de presse 1.The upward and downward movements of the driving cleats 17 are controlled using a cross member 18 whose ends are moved vertically using control means 19, part of which is provided below the support block 11 and housed in the transverse recess 14 of the press plate 1.

Comme précédemment mentionné, le bloc de support 11 est monté de façon amovible sur le plateau de presse 1 et peut être fixé sur ce dernier au moyen d'un vérin de verrouillage 20 dont le cylindre est solidaire du plateau 1 et dont la tige s'engage dans une échancrure du bloc de support. Ce bloc de support 11 peut se déplacer horizontalement et parallèlement au plan vertical comprenant les axes d'une rangée de chambres de formage 4 ou 5 en s'appuyant sur des guides horizontaux 21, 22 du plateau de presse 1.As previously mentioned, the support block 11 is removably mounted on the press plate 1 and can be fixed on the latter by means of a locking jack 20, the cylinder of which is integral with the plate 1 and the rod of which is engages in a notch in the support block. This support block 11 can move horizontally and parallel to the vertical plane comprising the axes of a row of forming chambers 4 or 5 by resting on horizontal guides 21, 22 of the press plate 1.

Le dispositif de découpe, de préformage et de transfert des banderoles 13 comprend aussi une unité d'introduction et de découpe transversale 23 des banderoles 13 à partir de bandes individuelles 24. Cette unité d'introduction 23 présente une pluralité de couteaux de découpe transversale 25 susceptible de coopérer avec une contre-lame 26 pour découper transversalement l'extrémité arrière d'une banderole 13 introduite dans la chambre de préenroulement correspondante 15 à travers une fente verticale d'accès 16; une pluralité de paires de rouleaux d'introduction 27a, 27b d'axes parallèles aux fentes verticales d'accès ou d'introduction 16 et disposées en amont juste devant une fente correspondante 16 et susceptibles d'entraîner chacune séquentiellement une bande individuelle 24 pincée entre ses deux rouleaux 27a, 27b, d'un pas égal à la longueur d'une banderole 13; des roues dentées 28a, 28b solidaires chacune d'un des rouleaux d'introduction 27a, 27b et engrenant l'une avec l'autre et avec une roue dentée de la paire voisine de rouleaux 27a, 27b; des moyens de commande 29, 30 pour entraîner séquentiellement les couteaux 25 et les roues dentées 28a, 28b; et un premier chariot de support partiel 31 qui comprend les fentes d'accès 16, les paires de rouleaux 27a, 27b, les roues dentées 28a, 28b et une partie des moyens de commande 29, 30.The device for cutting, preforming and transferring the banners 13 also comprises a unit for the introduction and transverse cutting 23 of the banners 13 from individual strips 24. This introduction unit 23 has a plurality of transverse cutting knives 25 capable of cooperating with a counter blade 26 for transversely cutting the rear end of a banner 13 introduced into the chamber corresponding pre-winding 15 through a vertical access slot 16; a plurality of pairs of introduction rollers 27a, 27b with axes parallel to the vertical access or introduction slots 16 and arranged upstream just in front of a corresponding slot 16 and capable of each sequentially driving an individual strip 24 pinched between its two rollers 27a, 27b, with a pitch equal to the length of a banner 13; toothed wheels 28a, 28b each secured to one of the introduction rollers 27a, 27b and meshing with one another and with a toothed wheel of the neighboring pair of rollers 27a, 27b; control means 29, 30 for sequentially driving the knives 25 and the toothed wheels 28a, 28b; and a first partial support carriage 31 which comprises the access slots 16, the pairs of rollers 27a, 27b, the toothed wheels 28a, 28b and part of the control means 29, 30.

Ce premier chariot de support partiel 31 comprend une paroi verticale de support 32 disposée contre le bloc de support 11 de façon à constituer par une de ses faces verticales, une partie de la paroi verticale des chambres de préenroulement 15. Comme dans l'exemple représenté, le bloc de support 11 comporte deux rangées parallèles de chambres de préenroulement 15, la paroi verticale de support 32 du premier chariot partiel 31 présente en section horizontale transversale la forme d'un U qui, par ses ailes, coiffe les faces verticales transversales du bloc de support 11 entre la face supérieure du plateau de presse 1 et l'extrémité supérieure dudit bloc de support 11. Pour des raisons technologiques, la paroi verticale 32 est constituée par le fond d'un profilé en U 33 dont les ailes latérales 34 s'étendent horizontalement en s'éloignant du bloc de support 11. Ce profilé en U 33 repose d'ailleurs par son aile inférieure sur l'aile supérieure d'un autre profilé en U 35 qui fait également partie du premier chariot partiel 31 qui par son aile inférieure, en position de service, repose entièrement sur des glissières horizontales inférieures 36, 37 de la partie inférieure du bloc de support 11. Ce premier chariot partiel 31 peut être rendu solidaire du bloc de support au moyen d'un vérin de verrouillage 38 dont le cylindre est par exemple fixé sur le bloc de support 11 et dont la tige s'engage dans une échancrure du premier chariot partiel 31. Les glissières horizontales 36, 37 sont également parallèles au plan vertical comprenant les axes des chambres de formage 6 et de préenroulement 15.This first partial support carriage 31 comprises a vertical support wall 32 disposed against the support block 11 so as to constitute, by one of its vertical faces, part of the vertical wall of the prewinding chambers 15. As in the example shown , the support block 11 has two parallel rows of pre-winding chambers 15, the vertical support wall 32 of the first partial carriage 31 has in cross horizontal section the shape of a U which, by its wings, covers the transverse vertical faces of the support block 11 between the upper face of the press plate 1 and the upper end of said support block 11. For technological reasons, the vertical wall 32 is formed by the bottom of a U-shaped section 33, the lateral wings 34 extend horizontally away from the support block 11. This U-shaped profile 33 also rests by its lower wing on the upper wing of another U-shaped profile 35 which is also part of the first partial carriage 31 which, by its lower wing, in the service position, rests entirely on lower horizontal slides 36, 37 of the lower part of the support block 11. This first partial carriage 31 can be made integral of the support block by means of a jack locking 38 whose cylinder is for example fixed on the support block 11 and whose rod engages in a notch of the first partial carriage 31. The horizontal slides 36, 37 are also parallel to the vertical plane comprising the axes of the chambers forming 6 and pre-winding 15.

Comme on peut le voir sur la figure 4, les paires de rouleaux verticaux 27a, 27b sont supportées par l'aile supérieure horizontale 34 du profilé en U 33 et se situent au même niveau que les chambres de préenroulement 15 et les couteaux 25 situés de l'autre côté de la paroi verticale de support 32 et actionnés à l'aide d'un téton 39 et d'une tringle 40 commandée par la tige 41 d'un vérin 42 monté sur le premier chariot partiel 31.As can be seen in FIG. 4, the pairs of vertical rollers 27a, 27b are supported by the horizontal upper wing 34 of the U-shaped section 33 and are located at the same level as the prerolling chambers 15 and the knives 25 located the other side of the vertical support wall 32 and actuated by means of a stud 39 and a rod 40 controlled by the rod 41 of a jack 42 mounted on the first partial carriage 31.

Un second chariot de support partiel 43 est disposé latéralement par rapport au bloc de moulage 3 et à la direction d'avancement F1 de la bande thermoplastique et en alignement avec le premier chariot partiel 31. Ainsi les deux chariots partiels 31 et 43 sont disposés l'un derrière l'autre dans le sens d'une rangée de chambres de formage 4 ou 5. Le second chariot partiel 43 comprend du côté de l'installation de thermoformage, c'est-à-dire en face du plateau de presse 1 et du premier chariot partiel 31, une butée de support et de verrouillage 44 susceptible d'être attelée sur l'extrémité latérale correspondante 45 du premier chariot partiel 31. Cette butée 44 comprend un vérin de verrouillage 46 dont le cylindre est par exemple fixé sur le second chariot partiel 43 et dont la tige s'engage dans une échancrure de l'extrémité latérale 45 du premier chariot partiel 31.A second partial support carriage 43 is arranged laterally with respect to the molding block 3 and to the direction of advance F1 of the thermoplastic strip and in alignment with the first partial carriage 31. Thus the two partial carriages 31 and 43 are arranged l one behind the other in the direction of a row of forming chambers 4 or 5. The second partial carriage 43 comprises on the side of the thermoforming installation, that is to say opposite the press plate 1 and of the first partial carriage 31, a support and locking stop 44 capable of being coupled to the corresponding lateral end 45 of the first partial carriage 31. This stop 44 comprises a locking cylinder 46 whose cylinder is for example fixed on the second partial carriage 43 and whose rod engages in a notch in the lateral end 45 of the first partial carriage 31.

Le second chariot de support partiel 43 est guidé sur des rails horizontaux 47 prévus sur le sol 48 sur lequel repose l'installation de thermoformage et s'étendant parallèlement aux glissières de guidage 36, 37 du premier chariot partiel 31 et au plan vertical comprenant les axes verticaux des chambres de formage 6 d'une même rangée de chambres 4 ou 5. Sur ce second chariot partiel 43 est prévu un moteur ou autre moyen de commande en rotation 49 dont la sortie est reliée par l'intermédiaire d'une liaison à cardan 50 et arbres télescopiques 51 à l'entrée du mécanisme de transmission 52 prévu sur le premier chariot partiel 31 et coopérant par l'intermédiaire des roues dentées 28a, 28b avec les paires de rouleaux d'introduction 27a, 27b.The second partial support carriage 43 is guided on horizontal rails 47 provided on the ground 48 on which the thermoforming installation rests and extending parallel to the guide rails 36, 37 of the first partial carriage 31 and in the vertical plane comprising the vertical axes of the forming chambers 6 of the same row of chambers 4 or 5. On this second partial carriage 43 is provided a motor or other rotary control means 49, the output of which is connected via a cardan link 50 and telescopic shafts 51 at the entry of the transmission mechanism 52 provided on the first partial carriage 31 and cooperating via the toothed wheels 28a, 28b with the pairs of introduction rollers 27a, 27b.

Le second chariot partiel 43 comprend en outre un moteur d'entraînement 53 qui assure son déplacement par rapport à l'installation de thermoformage. La sortie de ce moteur 53 attaque par l'intermédiaire d'une vis 54 une roue de commande 55 libre en rotation mais solidaire en translation du second chariot partiel 43. Cette roue à vis 55 coopère avec une tige filetée horizontale 56 dont une extrémité est fixée sur un flasque latéral 57 du bâti de l'installation de thermoformage et qui s'étend parallèlement aux rails 47 du second chariot partiel 43.The second partial carriage 43 further comprises a drive motor 53 which ensures its displacement relative to the thermoforming installation. The output of this motor 53 attacks, by means of a screw 54, a control wheel 55 which is free in rotation but integral in translation with the second partial carriage 43. This screw wheel 55 cooperates with a horizontal threaded rod 56, one end of which is fixed to a lateral flange 57 of the frame of the thermoforming installation and which extends parallel to the rails 47 of the second partial carriage 43.

Comme on peut le voir notamment sur la figure 8, le bloc de support 11 comporte sur sa partie inférieure pénétrant dans l'évidement transversal 14 du plateau de presse 1 les moyens de commande 19 pour la traverse 18 assurant la montée et la baisse de l'organe conformateur 8 par rapport au bloc de moulage 3. Ces moyens de commande 19 comprennent par rangée d'organes conformateurs 8, deux tubes de guidage verticaux 58 solidaires des extrémités latérales inférieures du bloc de support 11, deux tiges verticales 59 coulissant chacune dans l'un des tubes de guidage 58, raccordées à leur extrémité supérieure à la traverse horizontale de commande 18 et présentant, à leur partie inférieure, une crémaillère 59a qui coopère avec un secteur denté 60 articulé, d'une part, sur un axe 61 solidaire du bloc de support 11 et, d'autre part, sur la tige d'un vérin 62 dont le cylindre est également articulé sur ledit bloc 11. Une tringle de liaison 63 relie les deux secteurs dentés 60 pour éviter l'emploi d'un deuxième vérin de commande.As can be seen in particular in Figure 8, the support block 11 has on its lower part penetrating into the transverse recess 14 of the press plate 1 the control means 19 for the cross member 18 ensuring the rise and fall of the 'shaping member 8 with respect to the molding block 3. These control means 19 comprise, per row of shaping members 8, two vertical guide tubes 58 integral with the lower lateral ends of the support block 11, two vertical rods 59 each sliding in one of the guide tubes 58, connected at their upper end to the horizontal control cross member 18 and having, at their lower part, a rack 59a which cooperates with a toothed sector 60 articulated, on the one hand, on an axis 61 integral with the support block 11 and, on the other hand, on the rod of a jack 62 whose cylinder is also articulated on said block 11. A connecting rod 63 connects the two tooth sectors és 60 to avoid the use of a second control cylinder.

Le second chariot partiel 43 est avantageusement conçu de façon à pouvoir recevoir plusieurs bobines de bande-mère 64 (quatre dans l'exemple représenté) montées chacune sur un chariot de transport 65 à roues libres et susceptibles de rouler et s'orienter sur le plancher 66 du second chariot partiel 43 en étant guidé par un guidage 67 s'étendant parallèlement à la direction de déplacement F1 de la bande thermoplastique et perpendiculairement au sens de déplacement des chariots partiels 31 et 43. La bobine de bande-mère 64 est disposée sur le second chariot partiel 43 de telle sorte que son axe soit parallèle aux rails de guidage 47 dudit second chariot 43 et que les axes des bobines 64 soient alignés par paire de bobines 64.The second partial carriage 43 is advantageously designed so as to be able to receive several reels of mother strip 64 (four in the example shown) each mounted on a transport carriage 65 with free wheels and capable of rolling and being oriented on the floor 66 of the second partial carriage 43 while being guided by a guide 67 extending parallel to the direction of movement F1 of the thermoplastic strip and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the partial carriages 31 and 43. The reel of mother strip 64 is arranged on the second partial carriage 43 so that its axis is parallel to the guide rails 47 of said second carriage 43 and the axes of the coils 64 are aligned by pair of coils 64.

Le second chariot partiel 43 comporte avantageusement, au-dessus de l'emplacement des bobines de bande-mère 64 un châssis 68 supportant l'unité de découpe 69 d'au moins une bande-mère 70 et de préférence de deux bande-mère 70, 71 en bandes individuelles 24 ainsi que le rouleau de guidage à position réglable 72 pour chacune des bandes individuelles 24 et les rouleaux 73 ou barrettes de renvoi 74, 75 pour ces dernières.The second partial carriage 43 advantageously comprises, above the location of the reels of mother strip 64, a frame 68 supporting the cutting unit 69 of at least one mother strip 70 and preferably of two mother strip 70 , 71 in individual strips 24 as well as the adjustable position guide roller 72 for each of the individual strips 24 and the rollers 73 or return bars 74, 75 for the latter.

Comme on peut le voir, notamment sur les figures 2, 3 et 9 à 13, le second chariot partiel 43 comporte donc en tant qu'unité de découpe longitudinale 69 un cylindre à contre-lames 76 et un cylindre à lames annulaires 77 dont les lames 78 coopèrent avec les contre-lames 79 du cylindre 76. Afin d'éviter toute introduction manuelle d'une extrémité de la bande-mère 70, 71 entre les lames 78 et contre-lames 79, il est prévu un dispositif de guidage 80 pour la bande-mère 70, 71 et pour les bandes individuelles 24 sortant de l'unité de découpe longitudinale 69, ce dispositif de guidage 80 devant renvoyer les bandes individuelles 24 alternativement vers un côté et vers l'autre (vers la gauche et vers la droite sur les figures 9 et 10).As can be seen, in particular in FIGS. 2, 3 and 9 to 13, the second partial carriage 43 therefore comprises, as a longitudinal cutting unit 69, a counter-blade cylinder 76 and a cylinder with annular blades 77 whose blades 78 cooperate with the counter blades 79 of the cylinder 76. In order to avoid any manual introduction of one end of the mother strip 70, 71 between the blades 78 and counter blades 79, a guide device 80 is provided. for the mother strip 70, 71 and for the individual strips 24 leaving the longitudinal cutting unit 69, this guide device 80 having to return the individual strips 24 alternately to one side and to the other (to the left and towards the right in Figures 9 and 10).

Il convient aussi de préciser que les cylindres à contre-lames 76 et à lames 77 sont disposés sur le second chariot partiel 43 de telle sorte que leurs axes soient parallèles aux rails de guidage 47 dudit second chariot 43.It should also be specified that the cylinders with counter-blades 76 and blades 77 are arranged on the second partial carriage 43 so that their axes are parallel to the guide rails 47 of said second carriage 43.

En amont du cylindre à contre-lames 76 est prévu un cylindre de guidage 81 qui fait partie du dispositif 80 et délimite avec le pourtour du cylindre à contre-lames 76 une fente de passage 82. Une tôle de guidage horizontale 83 est disposée en amont du cylindre de guidage 81 et s'approche tangentiellement de la génératrice supérieure de celle-ci. Une autre tôle de guidage 84 est disposée de façon inclinée au-dessus du cylindre de guidage et s'approche par son extrémité inférieure de la fente de passage 82.Upstream of the counterblade cylinder 76 is provided a guide cylinder 81 which forms part of the device 80 and defines with the periphery of the counterblade cylinder 76 a passage slot 82. A horizontal guide plate 83 is arranged upstream of the guide cylinder 81 and approaches tangentially to the upper generator thereof. Another guide plate 84 is disposed in an inclined manner above the guide cylinder and approaches its lower end by the passage slot 82.

Entre deux échancrures annulaires faisant office de contre-lames 79, le cylindre 76 comprend une paire de gorges annulaires 85, 86 dans lesquelles s'engagent, d'une part, en face et en aval de la zone de contact des lames 78 et contre-lames 79 et dans chaque paire de gorges impaire des griffes de décollement 87 prolongées vers l'extérieur (gauche) par une tôle de guidage 88 et d'autre part, à la partie supérieure du cylindre à contre-lames 76, dans chaque paire de gorges paire, des griffes de décollement 89 prolongées vers l'extérieur (droit) par une tôle de guidage 90. La bande-mère 70, 71 et les bandes individuelles sont guidées vers les cylindres 76, 77 de l'unité de découpe longitudinale 69 et ensuite vers l'un ou l'autre côté de cette unité 69 à l'aide de plusieurs courroies sans fin 91 (à section transversale circulaire) qui passent autour du cylindre de guidage 81 et plusieurs rouleaux de renvoi 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 et entre les cylindres à contre-lames 76 et à lames 77 ainsi qu'entre le cylindre à contre-lames 76 et le cylindre de guidage 81. Il est à noter que les brins aller 91a et retour 91b de chaque courroie sans fin 91 sont décalés latéralement lors de leur passage entre les cylindres à contre-lames 76 et à lames 77 et que ces courroies 91 sont guidées au moins partiellement dans des rainures annulaires 97 prévues soit sur le cylindre de guidage 81, soit sur les cylindres 76 et 77.Between two annular notches acting as counter-blades 79, the cylinder 76 comprises a pair of annular grooves 85, 86 in which engage, on the one hand, in front and downstream of the contact zone of the blades 78 and against -blades 79 and in each pair of odd grooves, separation claws 87 extended outwards (left) by a guide plate 88 and on the other hand, at the upper part of the counter-blade cylinder 76, in each pair pair of grooves, release claws 89 extended outward (right) by a guide plate 90. The mother strip 70, 71 and the individual strips are guided towards the cylinders 76, 77 of the longitudinal cutting unit 69 and then to either side of this unit 69 using several endless belts 91 (of circular cross section) which pass around the guide cylinder 81 and several deflection rollers 92, 93, 94 , 95, 96 and between the counter-blade cylinders 76 and with blades 77 as well as between the counter-blade cylinder 76 and the guide cylinder 81. It should be noted that the outward strands 91a and return 91b of each endless belt 91 are offset laterally as they pass between the cylinders with against blades 76 and blades 77 and that these belts 91 are guided at least partially in annular grooves 97 provided either on the guide cylinder 81 or on the cylinders 76 and 77.

Il est également avantageux de prévoir sur le second chariot partiel 43 un dispositif suiveur 98 qui permet de maintenir constante la longueur du trajet de chacune des bandes individuelles 24 entre le dispositif de découpe longitudinale 69 et la paire de rouleaux d'introduction correspondante 27a, 27b prévue sur le premier chariot de support partiel 31.It is also advantageous to provide on the second partial carriage 43 a follower device 98 which makes it possible to keep the length of the path of each of the individual strips 24 constant between the longitudinal cutting device 69 and the pair of corresponding introduction rollers 27a, 27b provided on the first partial support carriage 31.

Ce dispositif suiveur 98 comprend le rouleau de guidage à position réglable 72 qui joue en même temps le rôle d'un rouleau tendeur fixé sur l'extrémité d'un double levier 99 dont l'autre extrémité porte un contre-poids 100 et, dans sa chute, passe devant une cellule photoélectrique ou autre élément de détection 101 permettant de constater un défaut d'avancement de la bande individuelle 24 ou la casse de celle-ci.This follower device 98 comprises the guide roller with adjustable position 72 which at the same time plays the role of a tension roller fixed on the end of a double lever 99 the other end of which carries a counterweight 100 and, in his fall passes in front a photoelectric cell or other detection element 101 making it possible to ascertain a failure in advancement of the individual strip 24 or the breakage thereof.

Le dispositif suiveur 98 comprend en outre une plateforme oscillante 102 qui est articulée à son bord extérieur sur un axe horizontal 103 porté par le second chariot partiel 43 et parallèle aux rails de guidage 47 de celui-ci et aux glissières 21, 22 et 36, 37. Cet axe de pivotement 103 coïncide d'ailleurs avec l'axe horizontal de la barrette de renvoi 75 qui, sur la figure 10, a été représenté légèrement au-dessus de l'axe de pivotement horizontal 103. Près de son bord intérieur (par rapport au plan vertical passant par les axes des chambres de formage d'une rangée de chambres 4 ou 5), la plateforme oscillante 102 présente autant de rouleaux de renvoi 73 qu'il y a de bandes individuelles 24 par rangée de chambres 4 ou 5, mais pour la clarté du dessin, un seul rouleau de renvoi 73 a été représenté, l'axe de ce rouleau 73 étant perpendiculaire à la plateforme oscillante 102 dont le bord intérieur 102a se situe dans le prolongement d'une rangée de chambres de formage 4 ou 5 et en position horizontale de la plateforme 102 à peu près à mi-hauteur entre la position haute et la position basse des paires de rouleaux d'introduction 27a, 27b, correspondant respectivement à la position haute de thermoformage et à la position basse de démoulage du bloc de moulage 3.The follower device 98 further comprises an oscillating platform 102 which is articulated at its outer edge on a horizontal axis 103 carried by the second partial carriage 43 and parallel to the guide rails 47 thereof and to the slides 21, 22 and 36, 37. This pivot axis 103 coincides, moreover, with the horizontal axis of the deflection bar 75 which, in FIG. 10, has been shown slightly above the horizontal pivot axis 103. Near its inner edge (relative to the vertical plane passing through the axes of the forming chambers of a row of chambers 4 or 5), the oscillating platform 102 has as many deflection rollers 73 as there are individual strips 24 per row of chambers 4 or 5, but for the clarity of the drawing, a single deflection roller 73 has been shown, the axis of this roller 73 being perpendicular to the oscillating platform 102 whose inner edge 102a is located in the extension of a row of chambers from f ormage 4 or 5 and in the horizontal position of the platform 102 at about halfway between the high position and the low position of the pairs of introduction rollers 27a, 27b, corresponding respectively to the high thermoforming position and to the position mold release base 3.

Afin de suivre les mouvements de montée et de baisse du bloc de moulage 3, mouvements indiqués par la double flèche verticale F2 (figure 11) le bord intérieur 102 de la plateforme oscillante 102 est relié par une tringlerie de liaison 104 à une face latérale verticale 3a du bloc de moulage 3 ou à un autre élément suivant les mouvements de montée et de baisse de ce dernier.In order to follow the upward and downward movements of the molding block 3, movements indicated by the double vertical arrow F2 (FIG. 11) the inner edge 102 of the oscillating platform 102 is connected by a linkage link 104 to a vertical lateral face. 3a of the molding block 3 or to another element according to the upward and downward movements of the latter.

Cette tringlerie de liaison 104 comprend un arbre d'oscillation 105 parallèle à l'axe de pivotement 103 de la plateforme 102 et porté dans des paliers non représentés du second chariot partiel 43. Sur cet arbre d'oscillation 105 sont fixés ridigement plusieurs bras 106, 107, 108, 109 qui sont de même longueur et parallèles entre eux et, à leur extrémité libre, sont articulés chacun à l'extrémité supérieure d'une bielle 110, 111, 112, 113 dont l'extrémité inférieure porte un axe d'articulation 114, 115, 116, 117, parallèles à l'axe de pivotement 103 et à l'arbre d'oscillation 105 et alignés entre eux.This linkage linkage 104 comprises an oscillation shaft 105 parallel to the pivot axis 103 of the platform 102 and carried in bearings (not shown) of the second partial carriage 43. Several arms 106 are ridiculously attached to this oscillation shaft 105 , 107, 108, 109 which are the same length and parallel to each other and, at their free end, are each articulated at the upper end of a connecting rod 110, 111, 112, 113 whose lower end carries a hinge pin 114, 115, 116, 117, parallel to the pivot axis 103 and the oscillation shaft 105 and aligned with each other.

La bielle 110 coopérant avec le premier bras 106 situé près de la face latérale verticale 3a du bloc de moulage 3 est reliée par son axe d'articulation inférieure 114 à ladite face latérale 3a de sorte que lors des mouvements de montée et de baisse du bloc de moulage 3, l'arbre d'oscillation 105 va exécuter un mouvement d'oscillation et transmettre ce mouvement aux trois autres bras 107, 108, 109 qui lui sont rigidement solidaires.The connecting rod 110 cooperating with the first arm 106 located near the vertical lateral face 3a of the molding block 3 is connected by its lower articulation axis 114 to said lateral face 3a so that during the upward and downward movements of the block molding 3, the oscillation shaft 105 will execute an oscillation movement and transmit this movement to the other three arms 107, 108, 109 which are rigidly attached thereto.

Les autres axes d'articulation 115, 116, 117 portés chacun par l'extrémité inférieure d'une bielle 111, 112, 113 s'engagent respectivement dans le trou oblong 118 de l'un des trois doigts d'accouplement 119, 120, 121 qui sont fixés sur le bord intérieur 102a dans le prolongement de la plateforme oscillante 102 et respectivement sur les extrémités et la partie médiane de ladite plateforme 102. Ainsi les mouvements de montée et de baisse du bloc de moulage 3 sont transformés en des mouvements analogues de montée et de baisse de la partie marginale intérieure de la plateforme 102 qui oscille alors autour de son axe de pivotement 103 tout en permettant au tronçon de bande individuelle 24 situé en aval du dernier rouleau de renvoi 73 de suivre presque exactement les courses ascendantes et descendantes de la paire de rouleaux d'introduction correspondante 27a, 27b.The other articulation axes 115, 116, 117 each carried by the lower end of a connecting rod 111, 112, 113 respectively engage in the oblong hole 118 of one of the three coupling fingers 119, 120, 121 which are fixed on the inner edge 102a in the extension of the oscillating platform 102 and respectively on the ends and the middle part of said platform 102. Thus the up and down movements of the molding block 3 are transformed into similar movements rise and fall of the inner marginal part of the platform 102 which then oscillates around its pivot axis 103 while allowing the individual strip section 24 located downstream of the last deflection roller 73 to follow the ascending races almost exactly and descending from the pair of corresponding introduction rollers 27a, 27b.

L'objet de la présente invention n'est pas limitée par le mode de réalisation précédemment décrit, mais couvre au contraire toutes les formes de réalisation comprises dans le champ de protection des revendications annexées.The object of the present invention is not limited by the embodiment described above, but on the contrary covers all the embodiments included in the scope of protection of the appended claims.

Claims (18)

1. Installation for the simultaneous thermoforming of at least one row of containers in thermoplastic material, in which each one of the containers are provided with a decorative banderole (13), installation of the type comprising:
― on the one hand, a thermoforming station through which is fed step-by-step a thermoforming band pre-heated to its forming temperature, and which comprises, under the path of said thermoplastic band, a molding unit (3) equipped with a plurality of vertical cylindrical forming chambers (6) disposed in at least one transversal row (4, 5) having at its lower end, an opening adapted to be closed off by a bottom element (7) movable with respect to the molding unit (3), which rests on a press table (1), vertically movable between a high position called thermoforming position and a low position called container-stripping position, and
― on the other hand, a device for cutting, preforming and transferring the banderoles (13) in the forming chambers (6) of the forming unit (3), said device comprising, from upstream to downstream, in the moving direction of the banderoles (13):
― a roller supporting a reel of master band (64), said roller being mounted on bearings on either side of said reel,
― a cutting unit (69) for longitudinally cutting the master-band (70, 71) into individual bands (24), said unit being mounted on a supporting frame (43) laterally spaced from the molding unit (3),
― a pre-winding unit (12) for pre-winding the decorative banderoles (13), said unit presenting, inside a supporting unit (11) which is placed under the molding unit (3):
a) a plurality of vertical cylindrical pre-winding chambers (15), each one in alignment with one of the forming chambers (6),
b) a shaping member (8) having a rod (9) which traverses the pre-winding chamber (15) and forms with the vertical wall thereof a narrow annular pre-winding and guiding chamber, and is adapted to penetrate into the forming chamber (6) through the bottom thereof and to apply said banderole (13) against the vertical side wall of said forming chamber,
c) a plurality of vertical access slots (16), each slot being provided in a lateral wall (32) defining part of the pre-winding chambers (15) and issuing in one of said pre-winding chambers, and
d) a transfer member (17) provided in the pre-winding and guiding annular chamber (15) and adapted to support the banderole (13) until the latter has been transferred to the forming chamber (6), and
― a banderole (13) introduction and transverse cutting (23) unit comprising:
a) a plurality of pairs of introduction rollers (27a, 27b) adapted to drive the individual band (24) gripped between its two rollers (27a, 27b) at a pace equal to the length of a banderole (13),
b) a plurality of knives (25), each one of which is adapted to cooperate with a counter-blade (26) for transversely cutting the back end of the banderole (13) introduced at least partly into the corresponding pre-winding chamber (15),
c) control means (29, 30) for turning the introduction rollers (27a, 27b), and sequentially actuating the transverse cutting knives (25), and
d) a supporting carriage (31, 43), movable horizontally parallel to the plane containing the axes of the chambers (6) of one row of forming chambers (4, 5), and perpendicular to the thermoplastic band feeding direction (F1), at a right angle with the forming station, said carriage carrying the transverse cutting knives (25), the pairs of introduction rollers (27a, 27b) and their control means (29, 30), installation characterized in that:
― the molding unit (3) rests on the press table (1) via the supporting unit (11) and is fixed thereon in normally unremovable fashion;
― the movable carriage (31, 43) comprises two partial carriages (31 and 43) placed one behind the other following the direction of a row of pre-winding chambers (15);
― the first partial carriage (31) rests, in operative position, entirely on the supporting unit (11) and is removably fixed on the latter and presents a vertical supporting wall (32) which is equipped with slots (16) giving access to the pre-winding chambers (15), defines a lateral part of said chambers, and comprises, upstream of each slot (16), one of the pairs of introduction rollers (27a, 27b), and downstream of said slot (16), a transverse cutting knife (25) which cooperates with an edge (26) of said slot (16), and means (30, 40 to 42) for controlling said transverse cutting knives (25) as well as a transmission mechanism (52) cooperating with said pairs of introduction rollers (27a, 27b);
― the second partial carriage (43), on the one hand, is guided on the surface (48) on which rests the thermoforming installation in parallel to the first partial carriage (31), and, is adapted to be coupled to one (45) of the lateral ends of the first partial carriage (31), and, on the'other hand, comprises a driving motor (53) ensuring displacement of said second partial carriage with respect to the frame (57) of the thermoforming installation, and rotation control means (49) whose output is connected to the input of the transmission mechanism (52), and
― the supporting unit (11) is removably mounted on the press table (1), is adapted to move on said press table (1) in a horizontal direction parallel to the moving direction of the two partial carriages (31, 43), and is equipped with means (19) controlling the upward and downward movement of the shaping member (8).
2. Thermoforming installation according to claim 1, characterized in that part of the means (19) controlling the upward and downward movements of the shaping member (8) is situated under the supporting unit (11) and is housed inside a transversal recess (14) of the press table (1).
3. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the supporting unit (11) comprises two parallel rows of pre-winding chambers (15) and the vertical supporting wall (32) of the first partial carriage (31) has a U-shaped horizontal cross-section, covering with its flanged parts the vertical transversal faces of the supporting unit (11) between the upper face of the latter and the upper face of the press table (1).
4. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the vertical supporting wall (32) of the first partial carriage (31) is constituted by the base of a U-section (33) of which the lateral flanges (34) extend horizontally away from the supporting unit (11) and in that the pairs of vertical rollers (27a, 27b) are supported by the upper flange (34) of the U-section (33) and are situated on the same level as the pre-winding chambers (15) and the knives (25) situated on the other side of said vertical wall (32).
5. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the knives (25) are actuated by way of a knob (39) and of a shaft (40) controlled by the rod (41) of a jack (42) mounted on the first partial carriage (31).
6. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second partial carriage (43) comprises, opposite the press table (1) and the first partial carriage (31), a support and lock abutment (44) adapted to be coupled to the corresponding lateral end (45) of the first partial carriage (31).
7. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the output of the rotation control means (49) provided on the second partial carriage (43) is connected to the input of the transmission mechanism (52) provided on the first partial carriage (31), via a universal drive (50) and telescopic shafts (51) connection.
8. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the motor (53) driving the second partial carriage (43) comprises as output a worm (54) which actuates a worm wheel (55) which is free in rotation but fast in translation with said second partial carriage (43) and which cooperates with a threaded and (56) extending in parallel to the guiding rails (47) of the second partial carriage (43) and of which one end is fixed on a lateral end-plate (57) of the frame of the thermoforming installation.
9. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the means (19) controlling the upward and downward movement of the shaping members (8) actuate a control crossbar (18) and comprise, for every row of shaping members (8), two vertical guiding tubes (58) fast with the lower lateral ends of the support unit (11), two vertical rods (59), each one sliding in one of said guiding tubes (58), said rods being joined by their upper end to the horizontal control crossbar (18) and being provided, at their lower end, with a rack (59a) which cooperates with a toothed sector (60) articulated, on the one hand, on a pin (61) fast with the supporting unit (11) and, on the other hand, on the rod of a jack (62) whose cylinder is likewise articulated in said unit (11), a connecting rod (63) linking the two toothed sectors (60), each one of which cooperates with one of the two vertical rods (69).
10. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the second partial carriage (43) is designed to receive a plurality of reels of master-band (64), each reel being mounted on a free-wheeled transporting trolley (65), which is able to roll and self-orientable on the floor (66) of the second partial carriage (43) while being guided by a guiding system (67) extending perpendicularly to the partial carriages (31 and 43) moving direction.
11. Thermoforming installation according to claim 10, characterized in that each reel of master-band (64) is placed on the second partial carriage (43) in such a way that the axis of the former is parallel to the guiding rails (47) of said second carriage (43), and the axes of the reels (64) are aligned with every pair of reels (64).
12. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the second partial carriage (43) comprises a chassis (68) supporting the unit (69) provided for the longitudinal cutting of at least one master-band (70) into individual bands (24) as well as a guiding roller, adjustable in position (72) for every individual band (24), and return rollers and bars (74, 75) for the latter.
13. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the longitudinal cutting unit (69) comprises two cylinders (76, 77), of axes parallel to the guiding rails (47) of the second partial carriage (43), one of the two cylinders being a cylinder with counter-blades (76) and the other cylinder, a cylinder with annular blades (77), said blades (78) cooperating with the counter-blades (79) of the cylinder (76).
14. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the second partial carriage (43) comprises a guiding device (80) coupled to the cylinders (76, 77) of the longitudinal cutting unit (69), designed to return the cut individual bands (24) alternately towards one side and the other of said unit (69), and comprising a guiding cylinder (81) defining a passage slot (82) with the periphery of the counter-blade cylinder (81), a horizontal guiding plate placed upstream of the guiding cylinder and approaches tangentially the upper generatrix thereof, another guiding plate (84), placed at an angle above the guiding cylinder (81) and, by its lower end, approaching the passage slot (82), as well as a plurality of pairs of annular grooves (85, 86), each pair being provided between two adjacent counter-blades (79) of the counter-blade cylinder (76), in which grooves are engaged, on the one hand, opposite and downstream of the contact zone between blades (78) and counter-blades (79) in every odd pair of grooves, separating claws (87) which are extended outwardly by a guiding plate (88) and, on the other hand, at the upper part of the counter-blade cylinder (76), in each even pair of grooves, separating claws (89) extended outwardly by a guiding plate (90).
15. Thermoforming installation according to claim 14, characterized in that the guiding device (80) further comprises a plurality of return rollers (92, 93, 94, 95, 96) and a plurality of endless belts (91) passing around said rollers and around the counter-blade (76) and blade (77) cylinders, as well as between the counter-blade cylinder (76) and the guiding cylinder (81), in that the delivery end (91a) and return end (91b) of each belt (91) are shifted laterally when passing between the counter-blade (76) and blade (77) cylinders, and said belts (91) are guided at least partly in annular grooves (97) provided either on the guiding cylinder (81) or on the cylinders (76 and 77).
16. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the second partial carriage (43) comprises a follower device (98) for keeping constant the length of the path of each individual band (24) between the longitudinal cutting unit (69) and the corresponding pair of introduction rollers (27a, 27b) provided on the first partial carriage (31).
17. Thermoforming installation according to claim 16, characterized in that the follower device (98) comprises: a pivoting platform (102) which, close to its outer edge, is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot pin (103) carried by the second partial carriage (43), which pivot pin is parallel to the guiding rails (47) of said carriage and coincides with the horizontal axis of the return bar (75), said pivoting platform having, close to its inner edge (102a) situated in extension of a row of forming chambers (4 or 5) and, when the platform (102) is in horizontal position, at approximately mid-distance between the high position and the low position of the pairs of introduction rollers (27a, 27b), as many return rollers (73) as there are individual bands (24) per row of chambers (4 or 5), the axis of each of said return rollers (73) being perpendicular to the pivoting platform (102), as well as a connecting rod (104) linking said platform (102) to the molding unit (3) in order to impart to the latter the upward and downward movements of said molding unit (3).
18. Thermoforming installation according to one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that the follower device (98) comprises a guiding roller, of adjustable position (72), mounted on the end of a double lever (99), of which the other end carries a counter-weight (100) operationally coupled to detection means (101) provided on the side of the dropping path of said counter-weight (100).
EP88403125A 1987-12-11 1988-12-09 Equipment for the simultaneous thermal formation of at least one row of containers made from thermoplastic material, each provided with a decorative banderole Expired - Lifetime EP0320392B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8717355A FR2624429B1 (en) 1987-12-11 1987-12-11 SIMULTANEOUS THERMOFORMING PLANT OF AT LEAST ONE ROW OF THERMOPLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH EACH DECORATIVE BAND
FR8717355 1987-12-11

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0320392A1 EP0320392A1 (en) 1989-06-14
EP0320392B1 true EP0320392B1 (en) 1991-10-16

Family

ID=9357802

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88403125A Expired - Lifetime EP0320392B1 (en) 1987-12-11 1988-12-09 Equipment for the simultaneous thermal formation of at least one row of containers made from thermoplastic material, each provided with a decorative banderole

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4840555A (en)
EP (1) EP0320392B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH01286818A (en)
DE (1) DE3865646D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2027406T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2624429B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2759320B1 (en) * 1997-02-12 1999-04-30 Erca PROCESS AND INSTALLATION OF THERMOFORMING AND BANDEROLING
ES2391515B1 (en) * 2011-02-11 2013-08-20 Mecánica Y Tecnología Alimentaria, S.L. RECYCLABLE AND PACKAGING THERMOFORMED PACKAGING FOR MANUFACTURING.

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH504949A (en) * 1969-03-13 1971-03-31 Intercan S A C O Fiduciaire Wa Plant for manufacturing containers with complex walls for packaging food and / or pharmaceutical products
US4009981A (en) * 1975-11-10 1977-03-01 Rosen Stanley R Universal mold tooling system for thermoforming molds
FR2340191A1 (en) * 1976-02-04 1977-09-02 Gatrun Anstalt BANDEROLES MANUFACTURING AND DEPOSIT SYSTEM
FR2425926A1 (en) * 1978-05-17 1979-12-14 Tecca Sarl Label reel changeover arrangement for thermoplastic container moulder - is mounted on carriage in duplicate, giving easy access
DE2917387C3 (en) * 1979-04-28 1981-11-12 Société d'Application Plastique, Mécanique et Electronique Plastimécanique S.A., 14700 Falaise Thermoforming machine for manufacturing containers from thermoplastic film
US4674972A (en) * 1984-03-30 1987-06-23 Wagner Curtis D Apparatus for thermoforming plastic articles
US4666394A (en) * 1985-02-07 1987-05-19 Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus for thermally fixing the formed thermoplastic products
FR2595976B1 (en) * 1986-03-20 1988-08-19 Paris Coop Laitiere Centrale EXTERNAL BANDEROLING DEVICE FOR CONTAINER THERMOFORMING MACHINES
FR2599668B1 (en) * 1986-06-09 1988-10-07 Erca Holding DEVICE FOR PREFORMING AND TRANSFERRING A DECORATIVE BANDERLE IN A CONTAINER THERMOFORMING SYSTEM
FR2602174B1 (en) * 1986-07-31 1988-11-18 Erca Holding METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE HEATING OF A THERMOPLASTIC BAND USED IN A THERMOFORMING STATION

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3865646D1 (en) 1991-11-21
EP0320392A1 (en) 1989-06-14
JPH01286818A (en) 1989-11-17
FR2624429A1 (en) 1989-06-16
US4840555A (en) 1989-06-20
FR2624429B1 (en) 1990-05-25
ES2027406T3 (en) 1992-06-01

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